Tags: Soul Disco

Review: Patrick Adams was responsible for producing tons of terrific disco records during the late 1970s and early '80s, but few are quite as dizzyingly good as Cloud One's 1976 cut 'Atmosphere Strut'. Created by Adams with the assistance of regular collaborator Peter Brown, the 9-minute plus track is notable for the extensive use of superbly spacey synthesizer lines, an infectious deep disco groove and a typically head-in-the-clouds lead vocal from Margo Williams. This reissue naturally offers-up Adams' original, must-have 12" club mix, but also a brand-new re-edit from disco rework specialist KON. He lengthens the intro, beefs up the bass and makes crafty use of some improvised vocals from Adams and Williams that were previously buried on the multi-track master tapes.

Review: Sylvester has too many hits to count, but 'Over And Over' has to be up there. Originally released in 1977, the timeless slice of uptempo disco funk was a mighty meeting of minds - any track penned by Ashford & Simpson is set for iconic status, and with Sylvester up front it's even more of a sure thing. Quite simply eternal. Of course, Sylvester's most famous collaborator was Patrick Cowley, whose magic touch is all over the wriggling, brooding synth boogie of 'I Need Somebody To Love Tonight', presented here as a compact 7" edit for a short sharp blast of perfection.

Review: Say She She are emergent stars of the NYC scene, pooling considerable talents from various parts of the world into a brew which feels wholly appropriate for the Big Apple. Upholding the open-hearted values of the downtown scene, they turn their hand to dexterous disco-not-disco get-down on ‘Reeling’ without ever sounding referential. Meanwhile on the flip they sink down into a more sultry mood, riding dusty, delicate drums and radiant Rhodes as a vehicle for some unreal vocal harmonies and a sound so cosy you could wrap it around you to stave off the winter.

Review: The legend of Ron Hardy will always live on - the pioneering selector changed the way dance music was played and consumed in clubs. His own edits were the backbone of his often intensely emotional and celebratory sound and this Ray label has long been putting out the best of them. Number 53 in the series kicks off with the cosmic synths and soothing vocal harmonies of 'Atmosphere Strut' before 'Classy Dance Orchestra' gets all elegant and sophisticated in its approach to disco. Captain Dax's 'Dr Beezar' is the last cut and another direct line to the sound of Paradise Garage in the 70s.